The 2024-2025 chapter in the ‘Battle of Pennsylvania’ will conclude this week. The Philadelphia Flyers (25-26-7) host the Pittsburgh Penguins (23-27-9) before visiting them at the PPG Paints Arena on Thursday.
Otherwise referred to as the ‘Keystone State Rivalry’ or ‘The Pennsylvania Cold War,’ the all-time rivalry between the Flyers and Penguins favors Philadelphia, 166-104-30-13.
Before the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off, the Flyers defeated Pittsburgh, 3-2, to break a five-game losing streak that included three shutout losses. Andrei Kuzmenko debuted with Philadelphia after Daniel Brière traded Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost to the Calgary Flames for him, Jakob Pelletier, a 2025 second-round pick, and a 2028 seventh-round selection. Kuzmenko recorded a secondary assist when Scott Laughton scored.
This season, the Flyers are 1-1-0 versus the Penguins. Sam Ersson (1-1-0, 85.1%SV, 4.21GAA vs. PIT in 2024-2025) made each start. Tristan Jarry earned the sole win against Philadelphia for Pittsburgh. Joel Blomqvist suffered the loss before the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off.
Per DraftKings Sportsbook, the Flyers (-135) are the favorites. The Penguins are on a three-game losing streak. Both are fighting to keep out of the NHL’s cellar. The powerplay would be an advantageous matchup for Pittsburgh. Team discipline will extend Philadelphia’s win streak to three.
When: 2/25/2025; 7:00pm/ET
Where: Wells Fargo Center; Philadelphia, PA
Broadcast Info: NBC Sports Philadelphia; Flyers Radio 24/7
Last Game PHI: 2/22/2025; 6-3 W; vs. Edmonton Oilers
Last Game PIT: 2/23/2025; 5-3 L; vs. New York Rangers
Philadelphia Flyers
Ersson (17-10-3, 2.81GAA, 89.4%SV) starts versus the Penguins for the third time this season. The Flyers provided a scoring rush in the second period versus the Edmonton Oilers to help lift Ersson to victory. His return from the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off didn’t instantly gratify a new level of confidence through his performance, but he kept his team, whether Sweden or Philadelphia, close enough to win. John Tortorella generated a new forward line to help with the rest.
“It’s new for Sam [Ersson], and really, quite honestly, all the guys from Philly to get onto a stage with some of the best players in the world. Team Canada; very well respected and all the players in that organization. TK [Konecny] and Sanny [Sanheim] come in there. Just to be around that and see how people act, how they go about it; the greatest thing about that, when it was beginning, people saying, ‘were they going to compete?’ There was no question what was going to happen in that tournament; how hard the competition was going to be. There was no question. I just couldn’t understand some of the people thinking, ‘well, are they going to play?’ Our athletes just aren’t built that way. For our [the Flyers] guys to be there in those type of situations, high stakes, and the intensity of it all to watch how other people play; how they raise their level. It does nothing but help. I’m proud of our guys.” – John Tortorella; 2/25/2025
Matvei Michkov (17G, 22A; 54.9%CF) looked refreshed in a new line with Owen Tippett and Sean Couturier. He needed the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off to rest. His performance versus the Oilers emphasized how Michkov faded before the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off because, after the break, he created offense at will with Tippett and Couturier. Michkov tallied three points (1G, 2A) versus Edmonton. If this line sticks, Michkov could catch Lane Hutson and Macklin Celebrini in the race for the Calder Memorial Trophy.
Rasmus Ristolainen (+4, 85BLK, 85HIT, 17TK:45GV; 47.7%FF) healed during the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off. He returned to the lineup versus the Oilers, notching two points (1G, 1A). Ristolainen could stay put with the NHL Trade Deadline approaching in 10 days.
Projected Lineup: Philadelphia Flyers
#74 Owen Tippett – #14 Sean Couturier – #39 Matvei Michkov
#71 Tyson Foerster – #27 Noah Cates – #10 Bobby Brink
#96 Andrei Kuzmenko – #21 Scott Laughton – #11 Travis Konecny
#22 Jakob Pelletier – #25 Ryan Poehling – #19 Garnet Hathaway
#8 Cam York – #6 Travis Sanheim
#24 Nick Seeler – #9 Jamie Drysdale
#5 Egor Zamula – #55 Ramus Ristolainen
#33 Sam Ersson
(#82 Ivan Fedotov)
Projected Lineup: Pittsburgh Penguins
#67 Rickard Rakell – #87 Sidney Crosby – #17 Bryan Rust
#72 Anthony Beauvillier – #71 Evgeni Malkin – #43 Danton Heinen
#8 Michael Bunting – #13 Kevin Hayes – #53 Philip Tomasino
#46 Blake Lizotte – #19 Cody Glass – #55 Noel Acciari
#73 Pierre-Olivier Joseph – #58 Kris Letang
#24 Matt Grzelcyk – #65 Erik Karlsson
#5 Ryan Shea – #7 Vincent Desharnais
#39 Alex Nedeljkovic
(#30 Joel Blomqvist)
You must be logged in to post a comment Login